If you plan to operate a business in Florida, there’s a good chance that you will need a business license, permit, or both.
In this Florida Business License guide, we’ll provide a succinct overview of everything you need to know to get started — including local and state licensing requirements, industry regulations, and associated fees — in order to allow you to focus on what truly matters: building a successful business in Florida.
Let’s get started!
We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
Florida does not have a general business license that applies statewide, but you may need specific licenses or permits depending on your business type and exact location.
Below, we’ve detailed common ways in which your business type can dictate the licenses you’ll be required to obtain, as well as specific examples of these:
However, this is not the only factor influencing the exact combination of licenses you’ll need — the location of your business within Florida plays an important role as well.
In this section, we’ve provided a succinct overview of the potential licenses and permits that your business may need due to local, state, and federal requirements:
Since the exact permits and licenses your business will need are entirely unique to your situation, you’ll have to conduct thorough research into your own local, state, and federal regulations to smoothly launch your business.
Alternatively, many entrepreneurs opt to leverage the expertise of third-party services to handle this on their behalf.
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We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
In order to get your business license(s) in Florida, you will need to complete the following steps:
Let’s take a look at each step in more detail below.
Before setting out to obtain a business license in Florida, it’s pivotal that you first choose an appropriate structure for your business. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and corporations are all common choices, however, it’s often seen as the most advantageous for small businesses in Florida to form a Limited Liability Company (LLC). There are a few reasons why:
Many small business owners opt to avoid the tricky process of forming an LLC by instead leveraging the help of third-party LLC formation services.
The second step you’ll need to complete before applying for your business license is to obtain your EIN. This is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses in the United States so that their financial transactions can be identified and tracked.
An EIN is often necessitated when applying for various permits and licenses as it allows local and state governments to ensure your business is operating within the confines of the law. You can obtain it in a number of ways:
Note: If you are a sole proprietor, you will be able to use your Social Security Number (SSN) instead (as long as you do not have employees).
After settling on the appropriate structure for your business and initiating the application for your EIN, the next step is to focus on securing the necessary licenses and permits to operate legally within your locale and industry.
Note: To help you find the specific local requirements for business licenses, you can visit the Florida League of Cities website, a municipal directory with the most current information available for Florida’s cities.
Businesses must renew the Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax each year. Having said that, the Department of Revenue will automatically renew the certificate for you and then send it to you. Renewing a business license in Florida is generally handled at the state or local level rather than through federal agencies.
MyFloridaLicense.com provides a licensing portal where you can renew or maintain your city or county business license.
If you’re uncertain whether you need to renew any of your business licenses, make sure to reach out to the agency that issued it for clarification.
Alternatively, due to how complicated each step of applying for and renewing Florida business licenses is, you can choose to use a third-party service instead.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this process, see our article on How to Get a Business License.
Florida does not charge a fee for obtaining an Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax.
This means that the average Florida business license cost in cities and counties can vary widely, ranging from as low as $15 to a few hundred dollars, depending on various factors like the nature of your business and its exact location.
For example, in Orlando, there is a one-time processing fee of $50 for obtaining a business tax receipt.
Remember that the cost of a business license typically covers the initial application fee, but renewal and processing fees are often separate charges that must be paid at later stages.
We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
To get a business license in Florida, you will need to determine your business structure and register your business name. You will then need to obtain an EIN from the IRS, check your local, state, and federal requirements, and apply for all relevant licenses and permits. See our How to Get a Business License to get started.
The cost of obtaining a business license in Florida varies depending on the type of business, location, and specific licensing requirements. Fees can range from $15 to several hundred dollars for local licenses, with state-level licenses potentially costing more. Additional costs may include inspections, background checks, and renewal fees.
In Florida, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) generally needs a business license to operate legally, but the specific type of license varies based on the nature of the business. Florida business license requirements can differ at the federal, state, and local levels. It’s essential to research and apply for all necessary permits and licenses to ensure compliance.
In Florida, there’s no statewide general business license, but you may need specific local business licenses and permits depending on your business type and location. Local counties and cities often require a business tax receipt in order to operate. For more information, check our Florida Business License guide.
For all related articles, have a look at our How to Get a Business License page.
Information on this page was researched and gathered from a multitude of sources and was most recently updated on September 9, 2024
Any Information on this site is not guaranteed or warranted to be correct, accurate, or up to date. StateRequirement and its members and affiliates are not responsible for any losses, monetary or otherwise. StateRequirement is not affiliated with any state, government, or licensing body. For more information, please contact your state's authority on insurance.
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